Google doodle ignores Easter, but it’s not the first time

Whether they’re hunting for eggs or attending services to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, many Americans are observing Easter in some fashion this Sunday. But don’t expect one popular search engine to celebrate with them.

Google, which regularly features special occasions on their homepage in the form of a logo ‘doodle,’ has decided to acknowledge the 86th birthday of Cesar Chavez instead of the annual spring holiday — a choice that incited outrage from Christians.

But this isn’t the first time Google has ignored Easter. A search of their past doodles shows only one doodle — from 2000 — that recognizes Easter with two decorated eggs. A search for Christmas reveals holiday-themed doodles, but only two, from 2010 and 2011, even feature depictions of Santa. Many past doodles show lights, presents and loosely Christmas-related items, however, making the snub of Easter seem harsher.

While one could argue that Google is being sensitive to those who don’t celebrate the Christian holidays Easter and Christmas — even in the Easter bunny/Santa Claus secularized sense — this is also the same company that has honored Day of the Dead with a doodle every year since 2008.

And while Day of the Dead is an important Mexican national holiday that celebrates the dead, there is absolutely no good argument for why it deserves more acknowledgement than the two holidays that celebrate the life of Jesus Christ.

After all, it’s not like Christianity is the biggest religion in the world or anything.